Vehicle seat device (as amended)

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a vehicle seat device including fewer restrictions with respect to seat function and which can be switched from a seating position to a storage position by motive power. In a vehicle seat ( 10 ), a vehicle width direction outer side end portion of a seat cushion ( 12 ) is supported so as to be capable of rotating around a drive shaft ( 30 ) having an axis along a vehicle front-rear direction, and the seat cushion can be switched between a seating configuration at which an occupant can be seated and a storage configuration at which the seat cushion ( 12 ) stands erect along a vehicle cabin inner side surface S, due to rotating around the drive shaft ( 30 ). A drive motor ( 42 ) is fixed to a vehicle body floor F at an installation side of the rotation shaft ( 30 ) with respect to a vehicle width direction center portion of the seat cushion ( 12 ), the drive motor ( 42 ) switching the seat cushion between the seating position and the storage position due to rotation of the drive shaft ( 30 ) that is fixed to the seat cushion ( 12 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat device which is mountedat a vehicle such as, for example, an automobile or the like, and whichcan be switched between a seating position and a storage position bymotive power.

RELATED ART

A technology is known in which a seat cushion frame and a rotating rodare supported on a base bracket so as to be respectively rotatable aboutdifferent axes that are mutually parallel and where a portion of theseat cushion frame different from the axis is linked, such that it mayfreely rotate, to a gear box that can move linearly on the rotating rod,whereby a revolving slider mechanism where the base bracket serves as afixed link is configured, the gear box is driven by a motor, and theseat cushion is automatically tipped up in a vehicle body side direction(e.g., see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 is Japanese UtilityModel Application Laid-Open No. 5-54065, Patent Document 2 is JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2003-212012.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the prior art as described above, the driving device(particularly the motor) is disposed inside the seat cushion frame, sothere has been the problem that this lowers the degree of freedom of theseat layout.

In consideration of the above-described circumstances, it is an objectof the present invention to provide a vehicle seat device includingfewer restrictions with respect to seat function and which can beswitched from a seating position to a storage position by motive power.

Method of Solving the Problem

A vehicle seat device according to a first aspect of the presentinvention comprises: a seat cushion that is supported so as to be rotateabout a rotation shaft having an axis along a vehicle body front-reardirection at a vehicle width direction outside end portion thereof, andwhich can be switched between a seating position at which an occupantcan be seated and a storage position at which the seat cushion standserect along a vehicle body inner surface, due to rotation around therotation shaft; and driving means including a drive source that is fixedto a vehicle body on an installation side of the rotation shaft withrespect to a vehicle width direction center portion of the seat cushionof the vehicle body and a vehicle body up-down direction lower portion,the driving means switching the seat cushion between the seatingposition and the storage position by activation of the drive source.

According to the above aspect, for example, when the seat cushion isswitched to the storage position from the seating position at whichseating of an occupant is possible, the driving means is operated. Whenthis is carried out, the seat cushion rotates around the rotation shaftand is switched to the storage position at which the seat cushion standserect along the vehicle body inner surface, due to the motive power ofthe driving means. Further, for example, when the seat cushion isswitched from the storage position to the seating position, a drivesource of the driving means is operated. When this is carried out, theseat cushion rotates around the rotation shaft and is switched to theseating position in which it is along a vehicle body floor surface, dueto the motive power of the driving means.

Here, the drive source of the driving means is fixed to the vehicle bodyon the rotation shaft side (vehicle width direction outer side) withrespect to the vehicle width direction center of the seat cushion,whereby a situation where the drive source occupies space inside theseat cushion (frame) and imparts restrictions on the seat functions(layout) is avoided. Further, the drive source is positioned on thevehicle body lower portion, so the driving means and the seat cushioncan always be connected such that motive power for switchingconfigurations is transmittable. Because of this, it becomes possiblefor the seat cushion to be switched between the seating position and thestorage position by just the vehicle occupant operating a switch, forexample.

In this manner, in the vehicle seat device according to theabove-described aspect, can be switched from the seating position to thestorage position by motive power including fewer restrictions withrespect to seat function. It will be noted that “vehicle body up-downdirection lower portion of the vehicle body” means a position in thevehicle body up-down direction where the drive source and the rotationshaft can be connected so as to not become a seating hindrance; forexample, this can be a position where an output portion of the drivesource is the same height as or lower than the upper end of the seatcushion.

In the preceding aspect, a configuration may be provided wherein therotation shaft is provided so as to rotate integrally with the seatcushion, and the driving means is configured an output shaft thereofconnected to the rotation shaft so as to rotate integrally with therotation shaft when the output shaft rotates by activation of the drivesource.

According to the preceding aspect, the driving means is configured byjust the drive source, and when this drive source is activated, therotation shaft rotates integrally with the seat cushion and the seatcushion is switched between the seating position and the storageposition. In this manner, the rotation shaft is directly rotated by thedrive source, so space that a motive power transmission mechanism or thelike (an element other than the drive source of the driving means)occupies inside the seat cushion becomes unnecessary, and restrictionswith respect to seat function become even fewer. It will be noted that,as the drive source that is activated and whose output shaft is causedto rotate, there can be used a reducer-equipped motor or the like, forexample. Further, the output shaft of the drive source and the rotationshaft may also be configured integrally.

In the above aspect, a configuration may be provided wherein the drivesource is disposed behind the seat cushion in the vehicle bodyfront-rear direction.

According to the preceding aspect, the drive source is disposed behindthe seat cushion, or in other words the drive source does not occupyspace inside the seat cushion, so restrictions with respect to seatfunction become even fewer. Further, interference between the seatcushion (the locus of displacement between the seating position and thestorage position thereof) and the drive source does not occur, wherebyrestrictions with respect to the layout and disposition of the seat arereduced.

In the above aspect, a configuration may be provided wherein the drivesource is fixed to a support member that is fixed to a vehicle bodyfloor and supports the rotation shaft or the output shaft such that itis able to freely rotate with respect to the vehicle body.

According to the preceding aspect, the seat cushion, the rotation shaft,the support member and the drive source can be made into an assemblysuch that they can be handled integrally when mounting them in thevehicle body. Because of this, mountability in a vehicle body is fineeven while the seat has a configuration where the driving means (drivesource) is disposed on the vehicle body.

In the above aspect, a configuration may be provided wherein the portionof the rotation shaft that supports the vehicle body front-reardirection front side of the seat cushion and the portion of the rotationshaft that supports the vehicle body front-rear direction rear side ofthe seat cushion are divided in the vehicle body front-rear direction.

According to the preceding aspect, interference between the seat cushion(the locus of displacement between the seating position and the storageposition thereof) and the drive source does not interfere in the portionbetween the plurally divided rotation shafts, so restrictions withrespect to the layout and disposition of the seat become fewer.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

As described above, the vehicle seat device according to the presentinvention has the excellent effects that the vehicle seat device can beswitched from a seating position to a storage position by motive powerincluding fewer restrictions with respect to seat function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a seating position of a vehicleseat according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a storage position of the vehicleseat according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the vehicle seat according to the firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention as seen from a vehiclewidth direction outside;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the vehicle seat according to the firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a plan view schematically showing a drive mechanism of thevehicle seat according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5B is a rear view schematically showing the drive mechanism of thevehicle seat according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6A is a plan view schematically showing a drive mechanism of avehicle seat according to a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6B is a rear view schematically showing the drive mechanism of thevehicle seat according to the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7A is a plan view schematically showing a drive mechanism of avehicle seat according to a third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7B is a rear view schematically showing the drive mechanism of thevehicle seat according to the third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8A is a plan view schematically showing a drive mechanism of avehicle seat according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8B is a rear view schematically showing the drive mechanism of thevehicle seat according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9A is a plan view schematically showing a drive mechanism of avehicle seat according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9B is a rear view schematically showing the drive mechanism of thevehicle seat according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10A is a plan view schematically showing a drive mechanism of avehicle seat according to a sixth fifth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10B is a rear view schematically showing the drive mechanism of thevehicle seat according to the sixth fifth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11A is a plan view schematically showing a drive mechanism of avehicle seat according to a reference example that is not included inthe present invention; and

FIG. 11B is a rear view schematically showing the drive mechanism of thevehicle seat according to the reference example that is not included inthe present invention.

BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

A vehicle seat 10 serving as a vehicle seat device according to a firstembodiment of the present invention will be described on the basis ofFIG. 1 to FIG. 5. It will be noted that arrow FR and arrow UPappropriately indicated in the drawings respectively represent afrontward direction (traveling direction) and an upward direction of anautomobile to which the vehicle seat 10 is applied and that arrow OUTrepresents the outside in a vehicle width direction that coincides witha seat width direction.

In FIG. 1, the general overall configuration of the vehicle seat 10 isshown in a perspective view. As shown in this drawing, the vehicle seat10 has a seat cushion 12 for seating a vehicle occupant of theautomobile in which the vehicle seat 10 has been mounted and a seat back14 that is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 12 and is forsupporting, from behind, the upper body of the seated vehicle occupant.This vehicle seat 10 is a third row seat (third seat).

This vehicle seat 10 is given a configuration where it can be switchedbetween a seating position (see FIG. 1) where a seating surface 12A ofthe seat cushion 12 faces up in the vehicle body up-down direction toenable seating of the vehicle occupant and a storage position (see FIG.2) where the seat cushion 12 is tipped up in the vehicle body sidedirection and stands upright along a vehicle cabin inside surface S. Thevehicle seat 10 will be described specifically below.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a lower end portion 14A of the seat back14 is tiltably connected to a rear end portion 12B of the seat cushion12 via a reclining device 16. The reclining device 16 enables the seatback 14 to be forwardly tilted until a state where the seat back 14 issuperposed on top of the seat cushion 12 (hereinafter called a fold-upstate) so that a back rest 14B of the seat back 14 becomes overlaid onthe seating surface 12A of the seat cushion 12. This reclining device 16is equipped with unillustrated biasing means (spiral springs) thatbiases the seat back 14 in the forwardly tilting direction with respectto the seat cushion 12 and a lock mechanism that holds the seat back 14in an arbitrary tilt position (inclination angle) with respect to theseat cushion 12.

Because of this, the vehicle seat 10 is given a configuration where,when a load is not placed on the seat back 14 in a lock release state ofthe lock mechanism, the seat back 14 is forwardly tilted with respect tothe seat cushion 12 by the biasing force of the biasing means and isplaced in the fold-up state. When a rearward load that exceeds thebiasing force acts on the seat back 14 in the lock release state, theseat back 14 is backwardly tilted with respect to the seat cushion 12.

Further, in this embodiment, there is disposed an electrically-poweredreclining lock release device, and the locked state of the recliningdevice 16 is automatically released by operation of a later-describedswitching switch 44. Because of this, there is realized a configurationwhere, when the switching switch 44 is operated in a state where novehicle occupant is seated in the vehicle seat 10, the seat back 14 isplaced in the fold-up state where it is superposed on top of the seatcushion 12.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the seat cushion 12 is configured as aresult of a cushion material 20 being provided at a seat cushion frame18. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5(A), the seat cushion frame 18 issupported so as to be rotatable about an axis along the vehicle bodyfront-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body via a front hinge22 and a rear hinge 24 that are disposed on a vehicle width directionoutside end portion of the seat cushion frame 18. The front hinge 22 isconfigured to include a driven shaft 26, which is arrangedlongitudinally in the vehicle body front-rear direction and is fixed atthe seat cushion frame 18, and a front hinge bracket 28, which supportsthe driven shaft 26 so as to be capable of rotating around the axisthereof. A lower end portion of the front hinge bracket 28 is fixed to avehicle body floor F.

The rear hinge 24 is configured to include a drive shaft 30, whosefront-rear direction is in the vehicle body front-rear direction andwhich is fixed to the seat cushion frame 18, and a rear hinge bracket32, which supports the drive shaft 30 such that the drive shaft 30 isrotatable about its axis. The rear hinge bracket 32 is fixed to thevehicle body via a base bracket 34 serving as a support member whoselower end is fixed to the vehicle body floor P. The drive shaft 30 isdisposed coaxially with the driven shaft 36, and the seat cushion frame18 (the seat cushion 12) is given a configuration where it can switchbetween the seating position and the storage position by rotating aboutthe axis of the driven shaft 26 and the drive shaft 30.

Further, a support leg 36 is provided at the vehicle width directioninside of the vehicle width direction center portion of the seat cushionframe 18. The support leg 36 has a pair of front and rear floor lockportions 38, and each floor lock portion 38 has an unillustrated lockmember that is capable of locking to and unlocking from a seat anchor 40fixed to the vehicle body floor F. Additionally, the floor lock portions38 are given a configuration where the lock members of the floor lockportions 38 become latched (locked) to the seat anchors 40 in theseating position of the vehicle seat 10 and switching the vehicle seat10 from the seating position to the storage position is allowed byreleasing the locking of the lock members with respect to the seatanchors 40.

In this embodiment, there is an electrically-powered seat lock releasedevice, and the latching of the floor lock portions 38 with respect tothe seat anchors 40 is automatically released by operation of thelater-described switching switch 44. Further, the lock members arebiased in the locking direction by unillustrated baising means, aredisplaced in the lock releasing direction by being pushed against theseat anchors 40, and mechanically move to the locked state with respectto the seat anchors 40 in accompaniment with the switching from thestorage position to the seating position.

It will be noted that the seat anchors 40 are respectively laid insiderecessed portions N that are provided in the vehicle body floor F (floorpanel). Because of this, the seat anchors 40 are given a configurationwhere they do not project from the vehicle body floor F in the storageposition. Further, the lower end portion of the front hinge bracket 28and the lower end portion (fastening site) of the rear hinge bracket 32are also laid inside recessed portions N. Moreover, the support leg 36is supported such that it may freely rotate about a support shaft 36A(see FIG. 5(B)) along the vehicle body front-rear direction with respectto the seat cushion frame 18, and as shown in FIG. 2, in the storageposition, the support leg 36 is housed in a leg housing portion 12C inthe seat cushion 12 such that the support leg 36 becomes a substantiallyeven surface with respect to the vehicle width direction inward-facingsurface (the undersurface in the seating position) of the seat cushion12.

Additionally, the vehicle seat 10 comprises a drive motor 42 serving asdriving means and a drive source for switching the seat cushion 12between the seating position and the storage position. The drive motor42 is a reducer-equipped motor (motor actuator) including a motorportion 42A and a gear portion 42B. In this embodiment, the rear hingebracket 32 that is fixed to the base bracket 34 doubles as a gearhousing that configures the gear portion 42B, and the drive shaft 30doubles as an output shaft of the gear portion 42B. That is, in thisembodiment, the rotation shaft in the present invention and the outputshaft in the present invention are integrated.

Because of the above, the drive motor 42 is configured such that thegear portion 42B directly drives the drive shaft 30 to rotate when themotor portion 42A is activated. It will be noted that the motor portion42A is disposed under the gear portion 42B in the vehicle body up-downdirection and on the back surface side of the base bracket 34.

Further, the drive motor 42 is configured to be capable of forward andreverse rotation, forwardly rotates to cause the drive shaft 30 (theseat cushion frame 18) to rotate in the direction of arrow A (see FIG.5(B)), and reversely rotates to cause 30 to rotate in the direction ofarrow B (see FIG. 5(B)), which is the opposite of arrow A. Because ofthis, the seat cushion 12 is switched from the seating position to thestorage position by forwardly rotating the drive motor 42 and isswitched from the storage position to the seating position by reverselyrotating the drive motor 42. Although it is not shown in the drawings,the drive motor 42 (and the base bracket 34) is covered by a covermember.

Moreover, in the vehicle seat 10, the drive motor 42, theelectrically-powered reclining lock release mechanism, theelectrically-powered seat lock release mechanism and the switchingswitch 44 are electrically connected to an unillustrated control circuit(or ECU) serving as a control device. The control circuit is configuredto respectively activate the electrically-powered reclining lock releasemechanism and the electrically-powered seat lock release mechanism andthereafter drive the drive motor 42 to forwardly rotate when anoperation signal is inputted to the control circuit from the switchingswitch 44 in a state where the vehicle seat 10 is to assume the seatingposition. The control circuit is also configured to drive the drivemotor 42 to forwardly rotate when an operation signal is inputted to thecontrol circuit from the switching switch 44 in a state where thevehicle seat 10 is to assume the storage position.

It will be noted that the control circuit is configured to judge whetherthe configuration of the vehicle seat 10 is the seating position or thestorage position on the basis, for example, of a lock signal that isinputted to the control circuit from the electrically-powered seat lockrelease mechanism when the lock members of the floor lock portions 38are locked to the seat anchors 40 or on the basis of an unlock signalthat is inputted to the control circuit from the seat lock releasemechanism when the lock members of the floor lock portions 38 are free.

As shown in FIG. 1, the switching switch 44 is disposed behind thevehicle seat 10 (the seat back 14) on the vehicle cabin inside surface Sand is configured to be operable from a rear gate of the vehicle body.It will be noted that, in addition to this switching switch 44 orinstead of this switching switch 44, the switching switch 44 can also,for example, be disposed in the vicinity of the driver seat or the like.

The automobile to which the vehicle seat 10 described above is appliedcomprises another vehicle seat 10, which is configured substantiallysymmetrically with the vehicle seat 10 with respect to a vehicle widthdirection centerline of the vehicle body. The vehicle seat 10 and theother vehicle seat 10 are given a configuration where they can beindependently switched between the seating position and the storageposition.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

In the vehicle seat 10 of the above-described configuration, seating ofa vehicle occupant is enabled in the seating position shown in FIG. 1,When this vehicle seat 10 is to be stored, the switching switch 44 isoperated. When this happens, the control circuit activates theelectrically-powered reclining lock release mechanism such that thelocked state of the reclining device 16 is released. Because of this,the seat back 14 is folded up on the seat cushion 12 by the biasingforce of the biasing means. Further, the control circuit activates theelectrically-powered seat lock release mechanism such that the lockedstate of the floor lock portions 38 is released.

Next, the control circuit outputs a forward rotation command to thedrive motor 42. When this happens, the drive motor 42, which is fixedlysupported on the vehicle body floor F, forwardly rotates and causes thedrive shaft 30 to rotate in the direction of arrow A with respect to thevehicle body. The seat cushion 12 is rotated by this drive force in thedirection of arrow A with respect to the vehicle body together with thefolded up seat back 14 and reaches the storage position as shown in FIG.2. Because of this, in the automobile in which the vehicle seat 10 ismounted, a wide cargo space can be ensured when the third seats are notin use.

hen the vehicle seat 10 is to be switched from the storage position tothe seating position, the switching switch 44 is operated. When thishappens, the control circuit outputs a reverse rotation command to thedrive motor 42, and the drive motor 42 reversely rotates and causes thedrive shaft 30 to rotate in the direction of arrow A. The seat cushion12 is rotated by this drive force in the direction of arrow B withrespect to the vehicle body together with the folded up seat back 14 andreaches the seating position of the seat cushion 12. In accompanimentwith this operation, the floor lock portions 38 become locked to theseat anchors 40. The vehicle occupant manually releases the lock of thereclining device 16, raises the seat back 14, and becomes seated in thevehicle seat 10.

Here, in the vehicle seat 10, because the vehicle seat 10 comprises thedrive motor 42, the vehicle seat 10 (the seat cushion 12) can beautomatically switched from the seating position to the storage positionby operation of the switching switch 44. Further, the seat cushion 12can be automatically switched from the storage position to the seatingposition by the drive motor 42. Because of these, the vehicle occupantcan change the seat arrangement without expending effort.

Additionally, in the vehicle seat 10, the drive motor 42 is fixed to thewidth direction outside portion of the seat cushion 12 in the vehiclebody floor F, so the drive motor 42 does not occupy space inside theseat cushion frame 18. In particular, in the vehicle seat 10, the drivemotor 42 is disposed behind the seat cushion 12, so the drive motor 42does not occupy any space inside the seat cushion frame 18. Moreover,the drive motor 42 directly drives the drive shaft 30, so a mechanismthat connects the drive motor 42 and the drive shaft 30 such that motivepower is transmittable is unnecessary, and a motive power transmissionmechanism is also not disposed inside the seat cushion frame 18.

Because of these, in the vehicle seat 10, there can be realized aconfiguration where the seat cushion 12 is switched between the seatingposition and the storage position by motive power (by just operating theswitching switch 44) while making restrictions imparted to the function(mainly the seating function) of the seat cushion 12 as a seat and itsstructure and appearance fewer. Further, there is no motive powertransmission mechanism because the drive motor 42 directly drives thedrive shaft 30, so such a mechanism is not exposed in the process ofchanging the configuration of the seat cushion 12, and the seat has agood appearance (a measure to make the seat appear nice is unnecessary).Moreover, the drive motor 42 is disposed on the vehicle width directionoutside portion of the back of the seat cushion 12, so the drive motor42 does not end up being exposed to the side of the seat cushion 12 and,because of this also, a good appearance is ensured.

Further, in the vehicle seat 10, the drive motor 42 is fixed to thevehicle body floor F, so there is realized a configuration where thedrive motor 42 is always connected to the drive shaft 30. For thisreason, an operation such as the vehicle occupant latching, at the timeof storage, a motive power transmission member (a hook-equipped belt,etc.) that hinders seating to the seat cushion 12 like in aconfiguration where the drive motor 42 is disposed on the roof, forexample, becomes unnecessary.

Moreover, in the vehicle seat 10, the driven shaft 26 (the front hinge22) and the drive shaft 30 (the rear hinge 24) are divided in thevehicle body front-rear direction, so there is nothing between thedriven shaft 26 and the drive shaft 30 to interfere in the switchingoperation of the seat cushion 12 between the seating position and thestorage position. For this reason, restrictions that the structuresupporting the seat cushion 12 so that it may freely rotate with respectto the vehicle body imparts to the seating performance and structure ofthe seat cushion 12 can also be made fewer.

Moreover still, in the vehicle seat 10, the drive motor 42 is integratedwith the rear hinge bracket 32 and attached to the base bracket 34, sothe seat cushion 12, the front hinge 22 (the driven shaft 26 and thefront hinge bracket 28), the rear hinge 24 (the drive shaft 30 and therear hinge bracket 32), the base bracket 34 and the drive motor 42 canbe made into an assembly before mounting to the vehicle. Because ofthis, in the vehicle seat 10, vehicle mountability is fine even whilethe seat is equipped with a motive power storage mechanism.

In this manner, in the vehicle seat 10 according to the firstembodiment, there are few restrictions with respect to seat function,and the vehicle seat 10 can be switched from the seating position to thestorage position by motive power.

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described, Itwill be noted that, in regard to parts and portions that are basicallythe same as those in the first embodiment or in precedingconfigurations, reference numerals that are the same as those in thefirst embodiment or in preceding configurations will be given theretoand description thereof will be omitted.

Second Embodiment

In FIG. 6(A), a vehicle seat 50 according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in a schematic plan view that corresponds toFIG. 5(A), and in FIG. 6(B), the vehicle seat 50 is shown in a schematicrear view that corresponds to FIG. 5(B). As shown in these drawings, thevehicle seat 50 differs from the vehicle seat 10 according to the firstembodiment in that the front hinge 22 and the rear hinge 24 are equippedwith a common rotation shaft 52 instead of the driven shaft 26 and thedrive shaft 30.

An intermediate portion of the rotation shaft 52 in the front-reardirection is configured as an escape portion 52A that projects outwardin the vehicle width direction, and the rotation shaft 52 is given aconfiguration where interference with something else (the vehicle seat50 itself or the vehicle body side portion) that accompanies the changein configuration between the seating position and the storage positionis prevented. The other configurations of the vehicle seat 50 are thesame as the corresponding configurations in the vehicle seat 10.

Consequently, according to the vehicle seat 50 according to the secondembodiment also, the same effects can be obtained by the same operationas the vehicle seat 10 according to the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment

In FIG. 7(A), a vehicle seat 60 according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in a schematic plan view that corresponds toFIG. 5(A), and in FIG. 7(B), the vehicle seat 60 is shown in a schematicrear view that corresponds to FIG. 5(B). As shown in these drawings, thevehicle seat 60 differs from the vehicle seat 50 according to the secondembodiment in that the vehicle seat 60 comprises a drive motor 62 thatis disposed on the vehicle width direction outside of the front-reardirection intermediate portion of the seat cushion 12 instead of thedrive motor 42 that is disposed behind the seat cushion 12.

The drive motor 62 is configured to directly drive the portion of therotation shaft 52 between the front hinge 22 and the rear hinge 24 (inthis embodiment, the portion in front the escape portion 52A) to rotatein the direction of arrow A or in the direction of arrow B. The drivemotor 62 is fixed to the vehicle floor F or the vehicle cabin insidesurface S via an unillustrated bracket. The other configurations of thevehicle seat 60 are the same as the corresponding configurations in thevehicle seat 50 according to the second embodiment.

Consequently, according to the vehicle seat 50 according to the thirdembodiment also, the same effects can be obtained by the same operationas the vehicle seat 10 according to the first embodiment, excludingeffects resulting from the drive motor 42 being disposed behind the seatcushion 12.

It will be noted that, although an example where the drive motor 62drives the rotation shaft 52 has been described in the third embodiment,the present invention is not limited to this and may also be configuredsuch that, for example, the drive motor 62 drives the driven shaft 26 orthe drive shaft 30.

Fourth Embodiment

In FIG. 8(A), a vehicle seat 70 according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in a schematic plan view that corresponds toFIG. 5(A), and in FIG. 8(B), the vehicle seat 70 is shown in a schematicrear view where the seat cushion frame 18 is partially cutaway. As shownin these drawings, the vehicle seat 70 differs from the vehicle seat 10according to the first embodiment in that the vehicle seat 70 comprisesa drive mechanism 72 that applies drive force in the direction of arrowA or arrow B to the seat cushion frame 18 instead of the drive motor 42that directly drives the drive shaft 30. It will be noted that, in thedescription below, the shaft represented by reference numeral 30 thatconfigures the rear hinge 24 will be called a rotation shaft 30.

The drive mechanism 72 is configured to include a slider link 74 thathas a slit 74A whose longitudinal direction is in the vehicle widthdirection and which is fixed to the seat cushion frame 18, a drive link(arm) 76 having one end that is connected to, so as to be slidable andrelatively rotatable in, the slit 74A via a link pin 76A, and a drivemotor 78 that drives the other end portion of the drive link 76 torotate in the direction of arrow A or in the direction of arrow B. Anoutput shaft 78A (center of rotation) of the drive motor 78 fixed to thevehicle body floor F via an unillustrated bracket is disposed away fromthe rotation shaft 30. Further, in this embodiment, the drive motor 78is disposed on the vehicle width direction outside portion of thevehicle body front-rear direction intermediate portion of the seatcushion 12.

As a result, the vehicle seat 70 is provide with a configuration where,when the drive motor 78 is activated and the drive link 76 rotates inthe direction of arrow A about the output shaft 78A, the drive link 76pushes the slider link 74 in the direction of arrow A while sliding inthe slit 74A via the link pin 76A, whereby the seat cushion frame 18rotates in the direction of arrow A about the driven shaft 26 and therotation shaft 30 and switches from the seating position to the storageposition. Further, the seat cushion frame 18 is switched from thestorage position to the seating position by substantially the oppositeoperation of this.

The other configurations of the vehicle seat 70 are the same as thecorresponding configurations in the vehicle seat 10 according to thefirst embodiment.

Consequently, in the vehicle seat 70 according to the fourth embodiment,the same effects can be obtained by the same operation as the vehicleseat 10 according to the first embodiment, excluding effects resultingfrom the drive motor 42 directly driving the drive shaft 30 and effectsresulting from the drive motor 42 being disposed behind the seat cushion12.

Fifth Embodiment

In FIG. 9(A), a vehicle seat 80 according to a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in a schematic plan view that corresponds toFIG. 5(A), and in FIG. 9(B), the vehicle seat 80 is shown in a schematicrear view where the seat cushion frame 18 is partially cutaway. As shownin these drawings, the vehicle seat 80 differs from the vehicle seat 70according to the fourth embodiment in that the vehicle seat 80 comprisesa drive mechanism 82 that is a quadric crank chain mechanism instead ofthe drive mechanism 72.

The drive mechanism 82 comprises a link 84 having one end that isconnected, so as to be relatively rotatable, via the link pin 76A to oneend portion of the drive link 76, and the other end of the link 84 isconnected to the support leg 36 via a link shaft 86. The link shaft 86is disposed coaxially with the support shaft of the support leg 36 withrespect to the seat cushion frame 18. Consequently, the drive mechanism82 configures quadric crank chain with the vehicle body (the link thatinterlinks the rotation shaft 30 and the output shaft 78A of the drivemotor 78) that is a fixed link, the drive link 76, the link 84 and theseat cushion frame 18. It will be noted that, in this embodiment, thesupport leg 36 is divided in two into front and back legs.

Because of the above, the vehicle seat 80 is given a configurationwhere, when the drive motor 78 is activated and the drive link 76rotates in the direction of arrow A about the output shaft 78A, the link84 pushes the seat cushion frame 18 (the link shaft 86) in the directionof arrow A while changing its configuration with respect to the drivelink 76, whereby the seat cushion frame 18 rotates in the direction ofarrow A about the driven shaft 26 and the rotation shaft 30 and switchesfrom the seating position to the storage position. Further, the seatcushion frame 18 is switched from the storage position to the seatingposition by substantially the opposite operation of this.

The other configurations of the vehicle seat 80 are the same as thecorresponding configurations in the vehicle seat 10 according to thefirst embodiment.

Consequently, in the vehicle seat 80 according to the fifth embodiment,the same effects can be obtained by the same operation as the vehicleseat 10 according to the first embodiment, excluding effects resultingfrom the drive motor 42 directly driving the drive shaft 30 and effectsresulting from the drive motor 42 being disposed behind the seat cushion12.

Sixth Embodiment

In FIG. 10(A), a vehicle seat 90 according to a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in a schematic plan view that corresponds toFIG. 5(A), and in FIG. 10(B), the vehicle seat 90 is shown in aschematic rear view where the seat cushion frame 18 is partiallycutaway. As shown in these drawings, the vehicle seat 90 differs fromthe vehicle seat 80 according to the fifth embodiment in that thevehicle seat 90 comprises a drive mechanism 92 instead of the drivemechanism 82.

The drive mechanism 92 comprises a link plate 94 that projects outwardin the vehicle width direction from the vehicle width direction innerend portion of the seat cushion frame 18, and the other end portion ofthe link 84 is connected, so as to be relatively rotatable, to the linkplate 94 via a link pin 96. Because of this, the drive mechanism 92configures, like the drive mechanism 82, quadric crank chain with thevehicle body that is a fixed link, the drive link 76, the link 84 andthe seat cushion frame 18, The other configurations of the vehicle seat90 are the same as the corresponding configurations in the vehicle seat80 according to the fifth embodiment.

Consequently, in the vehicle seat 90 according to the sixth embodiment,the same effects can be obtained by the same operation as the vehicleseat 10 according to the first embodiment, excluding effects resultingfrom the drive motor 42 directly driving the drive shaft 30 and effectsresulting from the drive motor 42 being disposed behind the seat cushion12.

Reference Example

In FIG. 11(A), a vehicle seat 100 according to a reference example thatis not included in the present invention is shown in a schematic planview that corresponds to FIG. 5(A), and in FIG. 11(B), the vehicle seat100 is shown in a schematic rear view where the seat cushion frame 18 ispartially cutaway. As shown in these drawings, the vehicle seat 100differs from each of the embodiments of the present invention in thatthe vehicle seat 100 comprises a drive mechanism 104 including a drivemotor 102 that is fixedly supported in the seat cushion frame 18. Thedrive motor 102 is held in the vehicle width direction inside portion ofthe inside of the seat cushion frame 18 via a motor support bracket 106.In the present reference example, the drive motor 102 is disposedbetween the support legs 36 that are divided in two into front and backlegs.

The drive mechanism 104 is configured to include a drive link 108 havingone end that is fixed to, so as to rotate integrally with, an outputshaft 102A of the drive motor 102, a link 112 having one end that isconnected, so as to be relatively rotatable, via a link pin 110 to theother end of the drive link 108, and a bracket 116 that supports theother end of the link 112 via a link pin 114 such that the link 112 isrelatively rotatable and which is fixed to the vehicle body floor F. Thelink pin 114 is disposed away from the rotation shaft 30. Consequently,the drive mechanism 104 configures quadric crank chain with the vehiclebody (the link that interlinks the rotation shaft 30 and the link pin114) that is a fixed link, the drive link 108, the link 112 and the seatcushion frame 18.

Because of the above, the vehicle seat 100 is given a configurationwhere, when the drive motor 102 is activated and the drive link 108rotates in the direction of arrow C about the output shaft 102A, theseat cushion frame 18 rotates in the direction of arrow A about thedriven shaft 26 and the rotation shaft 30 and switches from the seatingposition to the storage position. Further, the seat cushion frame 18 isswitched from the storage position to the seating position bysubstantially the opposite operation of this.

It will be noted that, in each of the preceding embodiments and in thereference example, an example has been described where the vehicle seat10 assumes the storage position in a state where the seat back 14 isfolded up on the seat cushion 12, but the present invention is notlimited to this; for example, the vehicle seat 10 may also be storedalong the vehicle cabin inside surface S in a state where the seat back14 is reclined back so as to form a substantially even surface with theseat cushion 12.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Vehicle seat (Vehicle seat device)-   12 Seat Cushion-   26 Driven Shaft (Rotation shaft)-   30 Drive Shaft (Rotation shaft)-   32 Rear Hinge Bracket (Support Member)-   34 Base Bracket (Support Member)-   42 Drive Motor (Drive Source, Driving means)-   50, 60, 70, 80, 90 Vehicle seats (Vehicle seat devices)-   52 Rotation shaft-   62 Drive Motor (Drive Source, Driving means)-   72, 82, 92 Drive Mechanisms (Driving means)-   78 Drive Motor (Drive Source)

1. A vehicle seat device comprising: a seat cushion that is supported soas to be rotatable about a rotation shaft having an axis along a vehiclebody front-rear direction at a vehicle width direction outer side endportion thereof, and which can be switched between a seating position atwhich an occupant can be seated and a storage position at which the seatcushion stands erect along a vehicle body inner surface, due to rotationaround the rotation shaft; and a driving device including a drive sourcethat is fixed to a vehicle body vertical direction lower portion of thevehicle body at an installation side of the rotation shaft with respectto a vehicle width direction center portion of the seat cushion, thedriving device switching the seat cushion between the seating positionand the storage position by activation of the drive source.
 2. Thevehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein: the rotation shaft isprovided so as to rotate integrally with the seat cushion; and thedriving device includes an output shaft that is connected to therotation shaft so as to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft whenthe output shaft is rotated by activation of the drive source.
 3. Thevehicle seat device according to claim 2, wherein the drive source isdisposed behind the seat cushion in the vehicle body front-reardirection.
 4. The vehicle seat device according to claim 3, wherein thedrive source is fixed to a support member that is fixed to a vehiclebody floor and supports the rotation shaft or the output shaft such thatit is able to freely rotate with respect to the vehicle body.
 5. Thevehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of therotation shaft that supports the vehicle body front-rear direction frontside of the seat cushion and a portion of the rotation shaft thatsupports the vehicle body front-rear direction rear side of the seatcushion are separated in the vehicle body front-rear direction.